Unraveling the complexities of the role of district managers

: an ethnographic study

Abstract

Within the contemporary business sphere, the many-sided challenges facing District Managers remain significantly underexplored. Despite the diversity of management portfolios embracing management variables and fundamental functions, a comprehensive understanding of the various obstacles encountered by District Managers in their complex roles remains a considerably understudied domain. Although ethnographic methodologies have demonstrated potential in diverse research contexts, their application to uncover the complexities embedded in the role of in the District Manager in the specific organizational context of a fashion retail business has confront with significant limitations. This study required direct observation involving immersive practical engagement and interactions with a diverse of participants within the company's hierarchical structure. Engagements included interactions with the country manager, two area managers, multiple district managers, saleswomen, and store managers, all situated across varied locations in the central and northern regions of Portugal. Adopting an ethnographic model as an observational sample provides several advantages. This approach enables a profound immersion in scientific documents, facilitating a complete and contextualized comprehension of organizational processes and interactions. Furthermore, participatory observation, promoting greater empathy and understanding of interpersonal dynamics in the work environment. Utilizing a reflective qualitative model, data through observational methods and a diary, this study aims to improve the knowledge of aspiring professionals in the field. Its main objective is to investigate the fundamental dynamics, operational complexities, and organizational challenges encountered by District Managers and other management professionals.

Date of Award	23 Jan 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Pedro Parada (Supervisor)